Inside brace for silos and tanks.



E. E. REED.

INSIDE BRAGE FOR SILOS AND TANKS. APPLICATION FILED DBO. s, 1912.

1,074,645, Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

7 a Z 6 6 f0 '/0 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, n. c.

era-raseaa nr twice.

ELMERI'ELLSWORTHtR/EED, OF .CHILLICOTHE, MISSOURI.

INSIDE BRA'CE FOR "SILOSIAND TANKS.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that'I, ELMER E. RRED, a citizenof the United States, residing at Chillicothe, in the countyofLivingston and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements inInsi'de Braces for Silos and Tanks, of-which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a device to be mounted within a siloptank,barrel or the like, to hold the staves of the same in their properpositions, so that theywill notbe distorted or warped upon shrinking,and the different parts of the-silo,-tank or -barre] "will be preventedfrom falling apart.

An important object of this-invention is toprovide a 'devlce of theabove mentioned character, whlch is-simple 1n COIlStI'UCtlOIl and whichwill exerta constant yielding character, which is simple inconstruction,-

strong, durable, and cheap tomanufacture.

Other objectsand advantagesvof this in-T vention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout'thesame, Figure 1 :lSvElr plan view of the complete device, parts thereofbeing shown in section and parts removed, Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailsection taken on line 22 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of thearrows, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig.1, and Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4.4 of Fig. 2.

1n the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, 1 have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates aplurality of ringsections, which form in effect a ring. I have shownfour of these ring-sections, but it is to be understood that any othersuitable number may be employed. I have found that satisfactory resultsare obtainable by employing I ,Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 6,1912.

this means the socket to engage astave 1-2 of the s rel, asshown. ldounte'd within each socket= "Tare a plurality of suitably stiif coilsprings 18,- the outer ends of which 14, as shown. The inner springsengage a plate '15. shown two coil springs 13, it is to be understoodthat'the invention is in-no sense-reand stiffness of the same.

Patented Oct. 7,1913. SeriaLNo. 735.5303.

two ring-sections 5.

Each of the ring-see tions 5 may preferably be circular in cross--section,as-shown in Fig. 2, although satisfactory'results areobtainable by forming them square, rectangular, or any other shape incross-section. The adjacent ends of the r1n-g-sections 5 overlap,-andare freely movably mountedwithin sleeves or sockets 6,-as shown. It isthus seen that the ring-sections =5 forma readily expansible andcontractible ring. The numeral? desi nates a socket or housing, which isconnected with each of the "ringse'ctions 5. 'Each of these sockets 7"is preferably formed rectangular in cross-see tion,-a"lthough notnecessarily restricted to this-shape, and comprises two parts 8. Theparts 8 are provided with longitudinal flanges 9,-=con-nected by bolts10, as shown. The outer ends of the with oppositely arranged curvedrecesses 11, which receive therein the ring-section 5. 'By 7 ispivotally connectedwith the ring-section' 5 so that the socket maybeswung in a vertical plane with relation to the ring-section. The outeredge or periphery of the ring-section preferably extends beyond theouter end ofthe socket'i',

ilo tank or barengage a plate ends of these While I have stricted to anyparticular number of coil springs, as-more than. two: may be employed oronly one, depending upon the strength Each socket 7 is slidably mountedupon a radially disposed arm or rod 16, which is preferably rectangularin cross-section although the same may be formed in any other shape incross-section.

The numeral 17 designates a central hub or casting, which is Xshaped, asshown. This hub carries a plurality of pairs of radially disposedextensions or arms 18, corresponding in number to the rods or arms 16,as shown- Each rod 16 has its inner end extending into the correspondingpair of eX- tensions 18, the inner end of the rod bein tapered orpointed to roperly fit within a portion of the hub 1% as shown. Eachparts 8 are provided of the rods or arms 16 is normally held within thepair of extensions 18 by a loop 19, which is adapted to be slid upon thepair of extensions 18 and off of the same upon the rod 16. When the loop14: is disposed upon the pair of extensions 18, the same serves to holdthe rod or arm 16 between the extensions 18, and also serves-to form asort of pivotal connection between the rod 16 and the hub 17, so thatthe hub may be slightly raised with relation to the ring-sections 5.

In the use of the device, the hub 17 is moved slightly above the ringsections 5, whereby such ring sections may be forced inwardly tosuit-ably contract the ring formed by the same. This having been done,the device is inserted within the silo, tank or barrel, subsequently towhich the hub 17 is forced downwardly to lie in the same horizontalplane with the ring-sections. It is thus seenthat upon forcing the hub17 downwardly, the rodsor arms 16 will be moved outwardly to engage andcompress the springs 13. These springs being thus placed under tensionforce the ring-sections outwardly, thus causing the expansion of thering formed by the same. The ring-sections 5 will exert a continuousyielding outward pressure upon the inner surface of the staves of thesilo, tank or barrel, retaining them firmly in engagement with the hoopssurrounding them. These staves are thus securely held in place andaccordingly prevented from being distorted or warped upon shrinking whendrying. The staves and hoops are also retained in their assembledposition and the silo, tank or barrel may be again used by properlytightening up the hoops to bring the staves in close relation.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatcertain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims. V 7

Having thus fully described my-invention, I claim c r 1. In a device ofthe character'described, an expansible and contractible ring, radiallydisposed rods connected therewith, a hub carrying pairs ofspacedextensions to re;

ceive the inner ends of the rods therebetween, and loops to be movedonto and off of the pairs of extensions.

2. In a device of the character described, an expansible andcontractible ring, sockets connectedtherewith, radially disposed rodsmounted to reciprocate within the sockets v.

coiled springs disposed within the sockets between the ends of the rodsand the ring, and means connecting the inner ends of the rods.

3. In a device of the character described, a plurality of ring-sectionshaving their adjacent ends overlapping, sleeves surrounding theoverlapping adjacent ends, a socket pivotally connected with each of thering sections, a rod mounted to reciprocate within each socket, asuitably stiff coil spring disposed within each socket between' theouter end of the rod and the'ring section, and means connecting theinner ends of the rods.

4. In a device of the character described, an expansible ring, aplurality of sockets connected therewith, each socket comprising t voparts having openings cut in 7 their outer ends to receive portions ofthe ring, bolts connecting the two parts, a compressible coil springmounted within each socket, a reciprocatory rod mounted within eachsocket, and a hub connecting the inner ends of the rods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.j

JAMEs'H. REYNOLDS, FRANK H. LnAvnN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe F Commissioner Patents.

Washington, D. G.

